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In Defence of Hedge Funds

the fear of hedge funds is overblown, based more on ignorance or simplistic caricatures than on actual knowledge. Many of the proposals for new regulation are so vague as to be impossible to evaluate or are poorly suited to address the supposed problems at issue. And even the most serious cause for concern—that hedge-fund operations might generate a “systemic risk” for the financial system as a whole—is neither limited to the hedge-fund sector nor best addressed through regulation of it. Rather than seeing hedge funds as sources of dangerous financial fires, in fact, it is more accurate to see them as the financial system’s benevolent fire fighters—and to let them have the tools they need to do their jobs well.

The long-short equity arbitrage fund is arguably an Australian invention. Australia is notable for regulating hedge funds in the same manner as other managed funds, making them available to retail investors, in sharp contrast to the ludicrous restrictions on retail participation in hedge funds in the US.

Comments

I agree Stephen. Surely having investors that hold both long and short positions should increase market liquidity and reduce the need to make panic transactions, both of which should reduce volatility. Perhaps one caveat is leverage - to the extent hedge funds can borrow, this may exacerbate volatility. But my understanding is that many Australian hedge funds do not borrow and in any case, there are many other ways for investors to gear up than just through hedge funds.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/30 at 11:36 PM